Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
See a Movie in the Lounge Car
Fairly recent feature films are shown in Superliner lounge cars,
usually starting in the early evening. As they are on the airlines,
movies shown will have been sanitized for family viewing.
Listen In on Train Talk
You can do this with a device called a scanner, a radio receiver
that picks up conversations among members of the operating
crew (usually the engineer and the conductor). These little devices
rapidly scan across radio frequencies used by police, fire depart-
ments, civil defense, railroads, taxi companies, and others, and
they automatically stop whenever they come across a channel in
use. For years I thought only the real hard-core train nuts car-
ried these little electronic toys, but I must confess that I bought
one some years ago and have enjoyed using it whenever I travel
by train. You not only hear conversations between members of
your train crew, but you also pick up those from yard workers,
passing trains, dispatchers, and the recorded voices of the auto-
matic detectors you pass. Scanners provide a fascinating look at
railroad operations and are perfectly legal, although there are a
couple of things to remember:
• Use the earphones that come with the scanner so the periodic
squawking won't disturb other passengers. As a matter of fact,
earphones are required for all audio devices on Amtrak trains.
• I suggest being judicious about displaying your scanner or
passing along anything you hear to other passengers. There's
no law against using one, but train crews will be a little more
guarded in their conversations if they notice someone with a
scanner.
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